John has been recognized by Chambers USA for his work in environmental law and by Super Lawyers as a "Mid-South Rising Star".
Overview
John has been recognized by Chambers USA for his work in environmental law and by Super Lawyers as a "Mid-South Rising Star".
Practice Areas
Industry
Experience
- Focuses almost exclusively on environmental, energy, and natural resources law.
- Regularly represents clients engaging in industrial, manufacturing and land use activities that require environmental permitting and compliance expertise.
- Regularly appears and represents clients before the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and state and federal courts in Mississippi and Louisiana.
- Represented a national coal mining company in multi-media environmental permitting for two lignite mines.
- Represented multiple power generation facilities in multi-media environmental permitting and compliance matters.
- Served as environmental and development counsel for large economic development projects, including automotive and tire manufacturing facilities with capital investments exceeding $1 billion.
- Served as environmental and development counsel for commercial development projects, including a recent project involving over $100 million in capital investment.
- Represented multiple solid waste disposal facilities in multi-media environmental permitting and compliance matters.
- Represented governing authorities and private companies in solid waste planning efforts and contract negotiations for operating and disposal contracts.
- Serves as environmental counsel to existing steel mills, chemical plants, and paper mills.
- Serves as counsel to local land use and development projects, including industrial, commercial and mixed use developments.
- Serves as general counsel to regional wastewater authority and serves as environmental counsel to various utility authorities.
Distinctions
- Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business
- Environment – Mississippi, 2014-2024
- Best Lawyers in America®
- Lawyer of the Year, Environment Law (Jackson), 2024
- Environment Law, 2013-2025
- Super Lawyers®
- Energy & Natural Resources, 2011-2014
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 2000
- Louisiana, 2001
- U.S. District Courts
- Louisiana: Western, Middle, Eastern
- Mississippi: Northern, Southern
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- 5th Circuit
Education
- Wake Forest University, J.D., 2000
- Visiting Student, Vermont Law School – Environmental Law
- Millsaps College, B.A., English and Spanish, cum laude, 1996
Associations
- American Bar Association
- Mississippi Bar Association
- Section on Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law
- Capital Area Bar Association
- Mississippi Wildlife Federation
Papers, Presentations & Publications
- Presenter, "Mississippi’s Lead role in the New Frontier of Clean Coal & Update on Gulf Oil Spill Issues," 2011 Mississippi Bar Convention, Section on Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law Annual Meeting.
- Presenter, "Overview of Mississippi’s Current Environmental Issues and Opportunities," Mississippi Bar Convention, SONREEL Section Meeting, July 2012.
- Presenter, "Endangered Species Act: The Basics and Current Issues," Millsaps College CLE, Millsaps Study Program in the Yucatan, April 2013.